Stuff-regulator for paper-making machines



(No Model.)

W. H. STOBIE & W. H. CUNNINGHAM. STUFF REGULATOR FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES.

N0. 564,035. Patented July 14, 1896.

Witnesses: InventOIS WM NfleaMeWA W 7/ 415 wAuorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. STOBIE, OF VVINSLOWV, AND \VILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAM, OF

. WVATERVILLE, MAINE.

STUFF-REGULATOR FOR PAPER-MAKING -MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,035, dated July 14, 1896. Application filed April 6, 1895. serial No. 544,8l9i (N model.)

I subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Winslow, and WILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVaterville, in the county of Kennebec, State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stuff-Regu lators for Paper-Making Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in stock or stuff regulators for paper-making machines, and the object is to provide mechanism to automatically control and accurately regulate the flow or feeding of the pulp or stock to the paper-making machine, so that whatever may be the consistency or density of the stock it will be delivered to the papermaking machine evenly and regularly, thus producing paper of uniform texture and weight.

WVe accomplish the object of our invention by the improved means or mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein is illustrated a vertical section through the tanks or receptacles, the conduit-pipe from one receptacle to the other, also the means for supporting the feed-box and the automatic valve mechanism for simultaneously regulating the flow of stock and water to the respective tanks being represented in side elevation and in connection with the said tanks or receptacles.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the vat or tank into which the stock which ultimately reaches the machine is supplied by any usual means, which are not shown because they are common in the art and well known.

B designates a tank or receptacle into which the stock is fed preparatory to its discharge to the paper-making machine. An opening 1 is formed in the lower end and at one side of this tank, through which the stock is dis charged to the paper-making machine. This opening 1 is provided with an adjustable slide or valve 2, of any suitable construction, whereby the quantity of pulp to be discharged through the gate or opening may be regulated through the adjustability of the slide.

0 designates a conduit or pipe to convey the stock from the tank A to the tank 13. The one end of this pipe 0 opens from the tank A near the top of the tank, as shown, so that the stock in the tank may be maintained substantially at a uniform height, and from the point of connection to the tank A this conduit is inclined to the point of its entrance into the tank B. A slide or gate 3 is provided to shut off the flow of the stock from the tank when desired;

The receptacle Bis seated on a balance plate or beam 6, and secured thereto, the other end of the beam being of sufficient weight to counterbalance the tank and its contents; but to render certain the operation of the tank and insure its quick return and restoration to normal position after having been depressed or elevated, consequent on the increase of stock therein or depletion thereof, an arm 7 is secured to the tank'B, and to the outer end thereof is secured one end of a spiral spring 8, the upper end of the spring terminating in a threaded portion 9, which is projected through a support 10, of any suitable character, and on this threaded portion is fitted an adjusting-nut 11, which bears on the upper face of the support 10, so that by the regulation of the nut 11 the tension of the spring may be regulated in its relat-ion to the receptacle B.

The relative arrangement of the counterbalance and the spring and their joint effect on the receptacle B is to maintain the receptacle in an upright and erect position. The beam 6 is formed with bearing-lugs 12, having knife-edges at their lower portions, which bear in suitable hearings in supports 13, mounted on and sustained by any suitable foundation. 7

D designates a Water-supply pipe leading from a supply source and arranged to discharge into the tank A, substantially as shown. In this water-supply pipe is a cutoff valve l i, which is used to cut off the water whenever required. 111 the water-supply pipe is arranged and suitably secured a regulating-valve 15, provided with an arm 16, to the outer end of which is jointed the end of a valve rod or link 17, the lower end of the rod being pivotally connected to the arm 7, projecting through the receptacle B, substantially as shown. In this pipe 0, preferably adjacent to the discharge end thereof, is a valve 18, adapted to set across and close the interior of the pipe, as desired, or to regulate the amount of pulp passing through the pipe. To the valve 18 is connected a link or rod 19, having its other end pivotally secured to the wall of the receptacle B, as shown in the drawlngs.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the illustrations referred to, it will be seen that the supply of water and the supply of pulp are regulated and controlled by the movements of the receptacle B, acting to operate and regulate the respective valves.

The operation is as follows: The stock is supplied to the tank ,A and fed to the receptacle B through the conduit or pipe 0, the amount of stock which eventually reaches the paper-making machine being controlled by the valve mechanism. The stock as it increases in density will run slower, and as it decreases in density runs faster from the receptacle, the weight or specific gravity being correspondingly varied. When, there fore, the stock thickens, it becomes heavier and accumulates in the receptacle, causing that to tilt downward on its bearings, and through the connection to the valve 18 causes the valve to partly close the pipe 0, preventing the rapid flow of the stock into the receptacle. Onthe other hand, if the stock becomes thin it runs from the receptacle 13 faster, and the receptacle with its contents made lighter, and consequently, through the action of the counterbalance and spring, assumes a higher position, which opens the valve 18 and permits a larger quantity of stock to flow into the receptacle.

The supply of water for thinning the stock is controlled and regulated by the same movements of the receptacle B. When the stock in this receptacle is thick, it does not run out so fast. Hence the contents accumulate and bear the receptacle down, as heretofore stated, to a lower position, opening the valve 15 and simultaneously closing the valve 18. Thus it will be observed that when the receptacle assumes a lower or higher position the valves are operated simultaneously or synchronously, the lower positions closing the stock-valve and opening the water-valve, and the higher positions opening the stock-valve and closing the water-valve, the movements being automatically effected by the specific gravity or weight of the stock in the receptacle, and thus the consistency of the stock and the quantity discharged or delivered to the paper making machine controlled and regulated.

In place of arranging the water-supply pipe to discharge into the stock-tank A it may be arranged to discharge into the receptacle B and the same valve mechanism and connections used.

lVe desire it also to be understood that slight changes in the exact details hereinbefore referred to may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein described stuff regulator, comprising a stock-tank, a water supply pipe discharging into said tank, said pipe having a cut-off valve and a regulating-valve, a balanced stuff-receptacle, a conduit leading from the tank to said receptacle, a regulating-valve in the lower end of the conduit, and means connected with the balanced receptacle and each of said regulating-valves, whereby both the upward and downward movement of the receptacle causes one valve to open and the other to close, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described stock-regulating apparatus for a paper-making machine, comprising a stock-tank, a balanced stock-receptacle having a discharge-opening to deliver the stock to the machine, an adjustable spring connected with the receptacle at one end and to a suitable support at the other end, said spring serving to assist in supporting the receptacle, a conduit to convey the stock from the tank to the receptacle, a regulating-valve in the lower end of the conduit, a water-supply pipe opening into the stocktank, a regulating-valve in the water-pipe, and means connected to the stock-receptacle and the said valve, whereby they are automatically opened and closed in alternation and synchronously, and the supply of water and feed of the stock thereby automatically regulated and controlled, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the stock-tank and receptacle, of a water-supply pipe discharging into said stock-tank, the said waterpipe having a regulating-valve, a conduit leading from the stock-tank to and discharging into the receptacle, said conduit having a regulating-valve, an operating-rod connectin g said regulating-valve and tank, said tank being balanced, and an operating-rod connecting the balanced receptacle with the water-regulating valve, substantially as shown and described.

4:. The combination with the waterpipe having a valve, of a stock-tank, the conduit having a regulating-valve, a balanced receptacle having an arm projected laterally therefrom, a spring connected to said arm at one In testimony whereof we affix our signaend and to a rigid support at the other end, a tures in presence of two witnesses.

regulating-valve in the conduit, a rod con- WILLIAM H. STOBIE. necting said receptacle and regulating-valve, WILLIAM H. CUNNINGHAlV and a rod connecting the said arm and a valve Witnesses in the water-pipe, substantially as shown and H. B. HOLLAND,

described. L. B. SPENCER. 

